Are We KINGS ?

A long time ago, there was a country where the people would change the king every year.
The person who became king had to agree to go and live on an island after his year of being king. One king had finished his term and it was time for him to go to the island.

The people dressed him up in expensive clothes, put him on an elephant, and took him around the cities to say goodbye to all the people.
This was always a moment of sadness for the king. After saying goodbye, the people took the king in a boat to a remote island and left him there. On their way back, they discovered a shipwreck. They saw a young man who had survived by holding onto a piece of wood. 

As they needed a new king, they picked up the young man and took him to their country. They asked him to be king for a year. At first he refused, but later he agreed to be king. People told him about the rules and regulations and how he would be sent to an island after one year.
After three days of being king, he asked the ministers if they would show him the island where all the other kings had been sent. They agreed and took him to the island.

The island was covered with thick jungle. The sound of vicious animals was everywhere. The king went inside the jungle a little way. He discovered the bodies of past kings. Then he understood: As soon as the kings were left on the island, the animals came and killed them.
The king then went back and asked the people to provide him with 100 strong workers. He took the workers to the island and told them to remove all the deadly animals and cut down all the trees. He visited the island every month to see how the work was progressing. 

 In the first month, all the animals were removed and many trees were cut down. By the second month, the whole island was cleared. The king then told the workers to plant gardens in various parts of the island. He took useful animals like chickens, ducks, birds, goats, and cows to the island. In the third month, he ordered the workers to build big houses and docks for ships. Over the months, the island turned into a beautiful place. 

The young king wore simple clothes and spent very little from his earnings. He sent all his earnings to be kept on the island. Nine months passed like this. The king called the people and told them, "I know that I have to go the island after one year, but I would like to go there right now." The people didn't agree to this and said that he would have to wait for another three months to complete the year. 

 Three months passed and the full year was completed. The people dressed the young king up and put him on an elephant to say goodbye to the people. This king was unusually happy to leave the kingdom. People asked him, "All the other kings cried at this moment, why are you laughing?"
He replied, "Don't you know what the wise people say? They say that when you come into this world you are crying and everyone is smiling. Live your life so that when you are dying, you are smiling and everyone around you is crying. I have lived that life. While all the other kings were lost in the luxuries of the kingdom, I always thought about the future and planned for it. I turned the deadly island into a beautiful place where I can stay peacefully." 

We should take a lesson from this story. The life of this world is to prepare for the life in the Hereafter. We shouldn't lose ourselves in the beautiful things of this world and forget about what is to come in the afterlife. Even if we are kings, we should live a simple life..

A Rose Bud

A new preacher was walking with an older more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and the younger preacher, feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.

The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life and for his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to TRY to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact it wasn't long before he realized how impossible it was to do so. Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to recite the following poem.

"It is only a tiny rosebud, a flower of God's design;

but I cannot unfold the petals with these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers is not known to such as I.

GOD opens this flower so sweetly, when in my hands they die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud this flower of God's design.

Then how can I have the wisdom to unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for leading each moment of my day.

I will look to him for His guidance each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me, only my Heavenly Father knows.

I'll trust Him to unfold the moments, just as He unfolds the rose"

HAVE A SPLENDID LIFE!!!

The Right Light

Decades ago I received two very pretty, oval shaped, pink stones that had fallen from a piece of costume jewellery. I have no idea what they are made of but probably just coloured glass. They could be worth zillions or not worth anything but to me they are priceless treasures.

Late one afternoon at about dusk I was searching through my treasure box for a brooch and one of the pink stones fell out. I heard its soft thump on the carpet and bent down to feel around in the dim light where I thought it would be. It wasn't there so I switched on the light. Still it remained hidden so I shone a torch over the area. It still eluded me.

Next morning I searched again but still could not find it. Perhaps I should bring the forceful assault of the vacuum cleaner to bear but I suspected my stone could be shattered by such power and then it would be lost forever.

Another day went by and, as I contemplated the spot, the sun streamed through the window and there was my little pink jewel shining softly in the sunlight against the blue carpet. It only needed the right sort of light to reveal it.

Often, when something is difficult to uncover we search and search for answers. However hard we search, it remains hidden and none of our artificial lights can reveal it. Our only choice is to be patient and then, when the timing is right and the right light shines on it, we see it.

Jesus said 'I am the light of the world' and the Psalmist said 'by your light we are enlightened,' Psalm 36:9. The right timing and the right light reveal the treasures of the kingdom of God to us.

It Depends Whose Hands It's In

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million
It depends whose hands it's in

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6
A baseball in Mark McGwire's hands is worth $19 million
It depends whose hands it's in

A tennis racket is useless in my hands
A tennis racket in Pete Sampras' hands is a Wimbledon Championship
It depends whose hands it's in

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea
It depends whose hands it's in

A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy
A sling shot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands
It depends whose hands it's in

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world
It depends whose hands it's in

As you see now it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because
It depends whose hands it's in.

Matthew 11:28 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Never Give Up...

One day I decided to quit...

I quit my job, my relationship, and my spirituality...

I wanted to quit my life.

I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me…

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water.

The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.

And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.

"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.

In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed.

I would not quit." He said.

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.

Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.

I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?"

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."

"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful."

"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned.

"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest and bring back this story.

I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.

Pray First...!

There once was a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old shotgun and three bullets. So, he decided that he would go out and kill something for dinner.
As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit and he shot at the rabbit and missed it. Then he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it. As he went further, he saw a wild turkey in the tree and he had only one bullet, but a voice came to him and said, "Pray first, aim high, and stay focused".
However, at the same time, he saw deer which was a better kill. He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer. But, then he saw a rattle snake between his legs about to bite him, so he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattle sanke.
Still, the voice said again to him, "I said 'pray, aim high and stay focused." So, the man decided to listen to the voice. He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey. The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer. The handle fell off the gun and hit the snake in the head and killed it.
And, when the gun had gone off, it knocked him into a pond. When he stood to look around, he had fish in all his pockets, a dead deer and a turkey to eat.
The snake (Satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God.
Bottom line: Pray first before you do anything, aim and shoot high in your goals, and stay focused on God. Pass this on in order that someone else might be blessed. Never let others discourage you concerning your past. The past is exactly that - " the past." Live every day one day at a time. And remember that only God knows our future and that he will not put you through any more than you can bear. Do not look to man for your blessings but look to the Lord. He can open doors for you that only He is able to do. Doors that you will not slip through but doors that only He has prepared in advance for you in your favor.
Wait, and be still, patient: keep God first and everything else will follow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Silver, You & God

Once a woman was puzzled and wondered what the Bible verse "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver" meant about the character and nature of God. She offered to find out the process of refining silver and called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver". She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you and, no matter whatever you are going through now, you will be a better person in the end!

HAVE A BLESSED LIFE!!!

P.U.S.H.............!

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin, when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down; his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night, the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind:

"You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved." Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought.
"I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort; and that
will be good enough."

And that is what he planned to do, until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord", he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter.
What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it.
Your task was to push.

And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are calloused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have.
Yet you haven't moved the rock.

But, your calling was to be obedient and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done.
Now I, my friend, will move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still
God who moves mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong just P.U.S.H. !
When the job gets you down just P.U.S.H. !
When people don't react the way you think they should just P.U.S.H.!
When your money looks gone and the bills are due just P.U.S.H.!
When people don't understand you just P.U.S.H. !
 

P = Pray U = Until S = Something H = Happens
 

Pass this on to your loved ones and friends who may need it. They may get it just in time. May the Lord bless you in everything you do. Be tender to the young.... Compassionate to the old.... Tolerant with the weak....For in your life, you will be all of these.

Foot Prints

One night I had a dream. I dreamed I was walking along the beach with God and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonged to me, the other to God. When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of life, there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life. This really bothered me and I questioned God about it. "God, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way, but I noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why in the times when I needed you most, you would leave me?" God replied, "My precious precious child, I love you and I would never never leave you during your times of trials and suffering. When you see only one set of footprints it was then that I carried you."

Even Donkey Can Do It Why Not You

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.
The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway,
 it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

So he invited all his neighbours to come over and help him.
They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first,the donkey realised what was happening and cried horribly.
Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later,
the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw.

With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal,
he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon,
everyone wasamazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!

Moral: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We canget out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!
Shake it off and take a step up!